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[Rocketcorner News]

By ​Eric Kastner

Findlay, OH – Bellevue quarterback Jalen Santoro has been nothing less of spectacular during his time under center for the Redmen. However, Saturday evening he took things to another level as he accounted for 398 total yards with 234 coming on the ground and the other 164 through the air as Bellevue upset the #1 Napoleon Wildcats 35-20.

Santoro, who is a light footed, six-foot, 155-pound senior, accounted for most of his yards in the first half when he essentially knocked Napoleon completely off their game plan by totaling 251 yards as the Redmen led 28-6 at the break.

Northern Lakes League champion Napoleon (11-1-1), had a rough go of containing Santoro on Saturday evening, in which he carried the ball 44 times. And, along with the defense being unable to contain the opposing quarterback, Bellevue (12-1) stiffened up and held Napoleon's offense to their lowest point total of the season.

Bellevue scored the first touchdown of the game on their second possession when they went 70 yards on four plays. Santoro connected with Derek Smith for a 58 yard touchdown strike with 6:57 left in the first quarter.

However, the Wildcats wasted no time with a touchdown of their own that also covered over 70 yards, when Lauf made a fabulous one-handed grab from 21 yards out. Joey DeVaul's extra-point try though was blocked and Bellevue led 7-6 with 3:48 remaining in the quarter.

Bellevue, came right back and Santoro jaunted in from four yards out as the Redmen took a 14-6 lead that they would never relinquish.

The Redmen would score again nearly mid-way through the 2nd quarter, after Yunker was intercepted by Bellevue defensive back Trent Stamm near midfield. And, with 6:45 remaining in the half, Bellevue's Clay Fries took a pitch from Santoro and rifled a 36 yard strike to Stamm for a touchdown to make it 21-6. Bellevue would then finish their first half scoring when Santoro found Nick Raifsnider on another touchdown pass, this one from 25 yards out with seven seconds left in the first half (28-6).

Napoleon would make a game of it early in the 3rd quarter when Stephen Yunker intercepted a Santoro pass inside the Redmen's 10 with just over 10 minutes left in the third quarter, as Bryant Schlade scored on a one-yard run three plays later to help the wildcats get within two possessions (28-12). However, the 22-point halftime deficit appeared to be too much to handle for the Wildcats as their best season in school history appeared to be in the dust.

Later in the third quarter a six yard touchdown reception by Lauf from Yunker (10-23-105) made it 35-20, but that's where the scoring totals would stand through the final quarter. Napoleon lead running back Charlie Harris was held to just 44 yards on 11 carries while his running mate Max Westhoven managed just 40 yards on 9 carries.

Bellevue (12-1) will take on Dayton Thurgood Marshall (12-1) next Saturday Evening for a chance to play in the division III state championship game at Canton Fawcett Stadium Saturday, December 1, at 11:00 a.m.